Gears of War gets in PS3's face

By Tom Bramwell Published 3 August, 2006

Emergence day: November 17th.

Halo 3 might not be there waiting to ambush PlayStation 3 this November, but Gears of War will - Microsoft's just announced it's due out in the UK on November 17th.

In the US, the game will be out on November 12th.

As well as a normal version, we'll also have the chance to buy a collector's limited edition version featuring the "Destroyed Beauty" art book and a bonus DVD on the making of the game, in a Halo 2-style metal box.

Developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft, Gears is the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 game of the year. Lead designer Cliff Bleszinski reckons it's "a one-two punch of cinematic action paired with a thrilling and compelling interactive experience."

"With 'Gears of War' we've created a title that will place gamers directly in the shadows of a ravaged world, surrounded by the beautiful remnants of a destroyed city and the horrific dangers that hide in the rubble."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (77) Latest comment 6 years ago

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  • Yossarian #1 6 years ago

    is this meant to be surprising somehow?

  • JetSetWilly #2 6 years ago

    The gloves are off!

  • Scurrminator #3 6 years ago

    uh - oh PS3!

  • cyacomini #4 6 years ago

    Where's the BIG announcement then ?

  • Kiigan #5 6 years ago

    Is that the big announcement? A game that we knew was in development is to be released around the time that we already knew it would be released? Don't get me wrong, I'm really keen on Gears of War but I expected a bigger announcement given the way it was reported last week.

  • S.J.Rogers #6 6 years ago

    Good Good Good..!

  • cyacomini #7 6 years ago

    No, this cant be the BIG one...

    Out for PS3 on Nov 17th ?

    ;)

  • Yossarian #8 6 years ago

    there was a Mark Rein IRC session where he couldn't even confirm a demo (that's in MS's hands). this is underwhelming.

  • manic_mouse #9 6 years ago

    But will it live up to the hype? Will it be a smashing combination of Halo and RE4 or another Brute Force?

  • The-Bodybuilder #10 6 years ago

    >"or another Brute Force?"

    I'm still waiting for MS to announce Brute Force 2.
    Along with shenmue III, NiGHTS 2 and a new panzar dragoon saga and it's gonna be a great 2007.

    Oh and Gears or war is nice.

  • alpha-0ne #11 6 years ago

    well at least the ps3 will have real time switching weapons in genji 2... beat that gears of war

    from all accounts the multiplayer for GOW rocked 6 months before relaese when played at E3

    good timing for me im back from a 4 week holiday on the 14th :-)

    Edited by alpha-0ne at 03/08/06 @ 16:26

  • Artemus #12 6 years ago

    PS3 is teh d00med!

  • gth #13 6 years ago

    wow...this is so.....amazing....zzzZZZzzz

  • Cloudane #14 6 years ago

    I reckon the PlayStation 3 will overshadow this game completely.

    Bad move Microsoft/Epic.

  • Mjollnir #15 6 years ago

    I'm not interested in another FPS game... the Xbox was laden with them and the majority of them weren't that good. Mouse and keyboards FTW!

  • Azazel #16 6 years ago

    It's third person isn't it?

  • pinhead #17 6 years ago

    This is the software release that I am looking forwards to. Some days off of work may have to be involved. Must manage the expectations of the missus regarding my availability at that time :-)

  • Stickman #18 6 years ago

    "The Playstation 3 is going to be big. Bigger than the PS2."

    About 13 kilos I heard.

  • The_Foo_Fighter #19 6 years ago

    Cloudane: 'I reckon the PlayStation 3 will overshadow this game completely.

    Bad move Microsoft/Epic. '


    I beg to differ.

  • Helios #20 6 years ago

    Right guys, we cant have any more shooters, they've been done to death.

    Or RPGs. Or Racing games. Or Puzzle games. Or platform games.

    Nope.

  • Penguinzoot #21 6 years ago

    @Cloudane
    "I reckon the PlayStation 3 will overshadow this game completely."

    /observes shadow cast by PS/3 console
    /compares with shadow cast by GoW DVD case

    Yeah, I guess you're right.

    /shrugs

    @_neon
    You're right again - the PS/3 is a lot bigger than the PS/2. You win a cookie.
    Edited by Penguinzoot at 03/08/06 @ 16:51

  • NAC #22 6 years ago

    LOL!!!! @ Artemus

  • ecureuil #23 6 years ago

    Stupid move.. are they really trying to derail the PS3's launch? There are nearly 200 million PlayStation consoles out there, they are the two most popular home consoles of all time, and love it or loath it, this WILL be the biggest event in the gaming calendar for some time. PS3 will completely overshadow the launch of GoW, it's almost guaranteed.

  • Skooch #24 6 years ago

    Yes, third person.

    Yes, in your face action.

    Yes, down and dirty chainsaw laden machine gun.

    Yes, time off work around this release date is most definitely required! :)

  • AcidSnake #25 6 years ago

    And here I was hoping they would announce that the main boss of the game was a giant crab...
    Edited by AcidSnake at 03/08/06 @ 17:00

  • Canadian_Mike #26 6 years ago

    " Cloudane
    03-Aug-06 16:31:17

    I reckon the PlayStation 3 will overshadow this game completely.

    Bad move Microsoft/Epic."

    --

    Silly move if the idea was to take attention away from the PS3. Only the fangirls know about it and the major media will surely ignore it due to the PS3 launch.

    I'm pretty sure it's not a PS3 thing though, the game just needs to come out sometime before christmas.

    Hey Bill! Wasn't the PS3 supposed to "walk right into" Halo 3? *snicker

  • bladeaku #27 6 years ago

    Gears of wars graphics beat anything on the ps3 so far, except for mgs4 which Im still unsure if that was ingame or more pre rendered rubbish.
    Sony is desperate to prove the ps3 can do what was shown at E3 last year.

  • peterfll #28 6 years ago

    At the end of the day, it's better for Microsoft to have large titles like this lined up during the PS3 launch period then have nothing. If the game is that good it can only have a positive outcome for the 360. And I'm sure MS will be pushing it as much as they can..........

  • rhinoxious #29 6 years ago

    It's well timed from a point of view of giving 360 owners a great game to play on the day their rival launches their system.

    It should underline the head start that 360 has over the PS3, with many quotes about how the best the game to buy on the 17th isn't on PS3 etc.

    though news coverage will be squarrely based on PS3 that weekend, every news item will also mention the competing 360, and gears of war will gain a lot of coverage too.

  • rinoaMW #30 6 years ago

    I don't know why people are getting so defensive over the PS3 - GOW will be much better than anything the PS3 launches with... simple as, really.

  • brombeer #31 6 years ago

    Yeah..it will certainly refrain me from buying my PS3...NOT! I'll just pass on GoW now and give the PS3 a try. My 360 is gathering dust as it is. How childish and idiotically minded Microsoft can be is beyond me...

  • rinoaMW #32 6 years ago

    @disc - but Heavenly Sword isn't going to be launched with the PS3, so your choice is;

    Big Brute with chainsaw in nice looking game,

    or

    any of the generic launch rubbish that you have to buy 3 of, in order to secure your PS3.

    i know which one i'd choose ;)

  • glaeken #33 6 years ago

    It sounds stupid to put GOW up against the PS3 but maybe MS are thinking that in all likelyhood most won't be able to pick up a PS3 until next year and so when they see a game that looks as good as GOW on the 360 they might be tempted to go the 360 route instead due to the lack of available PS3's.

    I would imagine that might even work for some gamers so I don't think it's as stupid a idea as it first looks.

  • Mjollnir #34 6 years ago

    Yeah sorry, it's 3rd person :)

    That's what I get for not reading things properly!

  • Lothar Hex #35 6 years ago

    I'm just glad it's got a release date, FINALLY.

  • rinoaMW #36 6 years ago

    Well, it was kind of the point, as you were comparing the two games as if they were out on the same day, but fair enough - I’ll just buy a Ps3 when HS comes out and i might even save a little bit of money ;)

    If you've been waiting and saving all this time for a ps3 to get a next gen console, then that's fine too.

    Glaeken raises a good point though - if i were standing in a game line and they sold out of PS3s, and i saw a 360 and GOW for less then 250 English pounds (when i had about £600 in my pocket anyway :p) that would be a VERY tempting deal indeed. Esp. with the back catalogue of titles and live arcade games that the 360 has accumulated in the past year. :)


    Edited by rinoaMW at 03/08/06 @ 17:43

  • captainrentboy #37 6 years ago

    I think it's a good idea actually,of course this one title alone isn't going to stop the die hard Sony lovers purchasing their pre-ordered PS3's on day one,and I doubt even Microsoft think it's capable of that.But with enough intense marketing behind it(TV spots/trailers,paper ads,lots of shelf space and what not)it sure is going to make the 360 look like a very attractive alternative console purchase to those thousands of British saps who try to buy a PS3 off the shelves on Nov 17th and are bitterly dissapointed when they can't and probably wont be able to until the new year.
    EDIT:Bollox,what i've said has already been said above my frikkin post :)
    Edited by captainrentboy at 03/08/06 @ 17:45

  • Darkedge #38 6 years ago

    "a one-two punch of cinematic action paired with a thrilling and compelling interactive experience."
    Oh god that wories me SO MUCH

    but is good news

  • getinthereson #39 6 years ago

    As long as GOW comes in a shiny metal box it will woo the PS3 buyers from the queue like a magpie to a old ladie's broach.

    It was a family heirloom....sniff....

  • holloguts #40 6 years ago

    Considering the high price of the PS3 I think a lot of gamers will be tempted to buy 360 + gow and a Nintendo Wii, and probably still have change.

    Already pointed out is that there are around 100 million PS2's out there. What is forgotten is that most of them are owned by casual gamers who are more interested in cheap, not hype.

    Sony's bullish attitude on price will cost them more in the long run, and to get the mainstream of gamers buying a PS3 it will have to drop in price quite a lot. Of course, we still have to find out what Sony have left out, or has that already been quietly announced, they manged to keep it out of the media pretty well when they cut back on the PS2 specs.


    As for Blue Ray, it really isn't that important. The PS3's high price is more about pushing Blue Ray onto customers that don't even want it yet (the casual gamers) in the hope to win over HD DVD.


  • Balסּr #41 6 years ago

    Did someone in this thread just say the PS3 has a future!? LMFAO! :D
    Edited by Balסּr at 03/08/06 @ 18:31

  • Lex_Luthor #42 6 years ago

    Pity Gears of War looks so boring.

  • bladeaku #43 6 years ago

    Its notworth buying a ps3 until at least a year after its release,by then some decent games will emerge.
    It was just the same with the 360 rushed launch games with decent titles only showing up a year after its out.

  • bodypopper #44 6 years ago

    I'll second that Bladeaku. GoW is the reason I'll finally be buying a 360. If the 360 launch games had been good, I'd have bought it on launch day.

  • Azazel #45 6 years ago

    This and Bioshock are both heading up my 360 wanted list. Moreso Bioshock i'd have to say...

  • Knot #46 6 years ago

    ^ I disagree, Bladeaku. I think alot of PS3 launch games are going to be quite good.....

    ....but it won't be 'good' enough to change the minds of people who have already written off, the PS3.

    I myself am certainly not convinced yet by PS3, but i still won't write it off yet.
    That's why i won't buy one at launch.

    The best fruits of labor of dev teams for PS3 won't be evident well after PS3 launch.
    I think that guarantees that the PS3 will not flop, but it might be late which will cause Sony massive financial damage and as fav console it will have to play catch-up.

    There are many devs like Konami's Team Silent, Ico Team, Sony's own studios at work on games nobody knows about ; all possible ace games. It's just that they'll be a bit late.
    Edited by Knot at 03/08/06 @ 19:29

  • jack_klugman #47 6 years ago

    This'll only hurt GOW. Which is good in my mind. Gears looks tedious.

  • Nostromo13 #48 6 years ago

    There are just too many Sony-tards around here...

  • Freek #49 6 years ago

    Probably just a coincidence. People don't buy consoles on impulse. The ones that want to buy a PS3 at launch have made thier minds up already. Same is probably true about the people interested in Gears. It won't effect either all that much.

  • Bumbuliuz #50 6 years ago

    Ah I like the date, will be picking up the special Edition of this game and no ps3 ;)

  • morriss #51 6 years ago

    Any news of a demo before launch?

  • Sorb #52 6 years ago

    I wonder if the big announcement is that there will be a Gears of War demo out tomorrow! Remember, the release date is not the big announcement as we read last week:
    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=66282
    ]http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

  • mike_mgoblue #53 6 years ago

    Halo 3 will be there when the Playstation 3 launches!!!

    I bet it will be there as a Bonus movie preview or something on one of the Gears of War discs. Halo is such a popular series, I bet that the inclusion of anything related to Halo 3 in the Gears of War Limited Collectors Edition will sell extra thousands of copies of Gears of War!!! And the cool thing is that the Halo fans will end up liking Gears of War, because that is such a great game, too!!!

    Gears of War is one of the most anticipated game in decades!!!
    Edited by mike_mgoblue at 03/08/06 @ 22:16

  • Les #54 6 years ago

    What marketing idiot makes up these kind of things?! If I'm going to the store to buy a PS3 I will not all of a sudden change my mind and buy GOW and a 360. And hype for a new console will be much bigger than hype for a very good game (even though the release of a good game on 360 always is a news event and a really good game almost unbelievable).

  • IronGiant #55 6 years ago

    Oh hello cashing in.. at this price in the US if that converts to a similar amount of £'s over here then they can shove it.


    "One of the most anticipated next-generation console titles of 2006 and the critic's choice winner for the E3 2006 Best Console Game, "Gears of War" will explode onto store shelves with a standard edition available for $59.99* and a limited collector's edition available for $69.99. The limited edition will offer an even deeper look into the graphically stunning and frightening world of "Gears of War," providing an official "Destroyed Beauty" art book and a bonus DVD featuring an inside look at the making of the game - all enclosed in a highly collectible metal box."

  • darkbhudda #56 6 years ago

    November 17th was already Emergence Day for me.

    It's my birthday.
    Edited by darkbhudda at 03/08/06 @ 23:19

  • NegativeZero #57 6 years ago

    Cliffy B is a cool guy and everything, but I'm still not sold on this game. Something about it seems shallow.

    I'm predicting it does well for the first 3-6 months, then is forgotten about like most Xbox games. I seriously doubt it will have the level of quality multiplayer that kept Halo going for so long.

  • stoopidgreg #58 6 years ago

    i saw a half hour walkthrough of the game on gamespot and it does look utterly stunning to play. in yo face sony!

  • mike_mgoblue #59 6 years ago

    Trust me, I saw what happened at the 2006 E3 when Gears of War was played by Cliffy B...this game is AMAZING!!! People in the audience voluntarily screamed and clapped because of the amazing performance of Gears of War. There were a lot of people who had listened to Sony's lies at the 2005 E3, and they thought that they were going to like the Playstation 3. But at the 2006 E3, Sony's Phil Harrison literally had to ask the audience to clap for the display of Playstation 3 games, because nobody voluntarily clapped...and when Phil Harrison asked, very few people clapped for the PS3, because they were very disappointed.

    When people who are still deceived by the Playstation 3 walk into the store and see only six launch games for the Playstation 3, and over 100 for the Xbox 360, then that will make them think twice about purchasing the Playstation 3...especially when you consider that the third-party games appearing on both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 look better on the Xbox 360.

    I personally believe that the Independent Playstation Magazine said it best in one of their recent issues when they showed Gears of War side-by-side next to Playstation 3 games. The Independed Playstation Magazine said that thanks to Xbox 360 games like Gears of War, the Playstation 3 will NOT have the best graphics when it launches. This is something that Microsoft is doing an excellent job of promoting.

  • 3william56 #60 6 years ago

    What sort of lame is sad enough to scream at the demo of a game?
    /sigh

  • Les #61 6 years ago

    "and over 100 for the Xbox 360"

    So they're gonna publish 90 games in november then? The first year 360 line-up is even worse than that of xbox. For MS to really take advantage of its one year lead, it should have made sure it actually published some games worth playing.

    As for which games will look best come november, I think it's better to wait and see than to speculate.

  • BartonFink #62 6 years ago

    Can't see how this could possibly affect PS3 sales at launch as it will probably be sold out with pre-orders anyway. One thing it will probably do though is put a lot more 360s under TVs which in the long term would not be good news for Sony.
    The choice for consumers will be simple though do I get an over priced machine with damn all (if anything) worth playing on it or a machine that's significantly cheaper with over 100 games (lot's of quality gaming in there). Or do I spend the equivalent and pick up both a 360 and Wii.
    Edited by BartonFink at 04/08/06 @ 08:38

  • Baz_Dude #63 6 years ago

    I'd rather Get a 360 and GoW than pay a $1000 AU for the console alone. This game will rock, everyone who has played it has raved about it and Sony don't have any launch titles that will be able to counter it. Bring it on!

  • Penguinzoot #64 6 years ago

    I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting that GoW is going to stop people buying a PS3 on launch day.

    I think what Microsoft are hoping for is to lure disappointed casual gamers and parents who where unable to get one of the initial PS3 launch allocation into buying a 360, instead of maybe waiting for the New Year until the next PS3 shipment arrives in retail.

    After all, most of the initial allocation is going to go to hardcore gamers. Casual gamers and parents after xmas presents will be largely left out.

  • Yossarian #65 6 years ago

    all Microsoft needs to ensure is that Gears of War is playing on a big 360 screen somewhere in the store beside a screen showing PS3 launch titles. graphically there will be zero difference, and in fact Gears will probably look considerably better.

    as for the person who said the PS3 will probably be sold out with pre-orders anyway: ding ding ding! average consumer wanders into game shop, discovers a PS3 can't be had for love nor money, sees the 360 and Gears of War lining the shelves...

  • drumbaby #66 6 years ago

    GoW is the best thing on Xbox 360's horizon for quite some time, so this comes as no surprise. I don't think the people willing to shell out for PS3s at launch will be even remotely dissuaded by this though.

  • The-Bodybuilder #67 6 years ago

    I;m sure GOW will be the next halo, as in the next game to get a good bashing for many years to come on this board.

  • #68 6 years ago

    what Microsoft are hoping for is to lure disappointed casual gamers and parents who where unable to get one of the initial PS3 launch allocation into buying a 360

    I don't quite understand what you're saying here Penguin, little Johnny asks mummy for a PS3 and she buys him a 360 instead?

    Personally, I think the PS3 is going to be huge. The PSP was, what, £180? Twice the price of the £90 UK GBA launch but that did not prevent the PSP from accruing the highest UK sales in record time.

    And with forthcoming Final Fantasy, Metal Gear and Virtua Fighter exclusives (not to mention the cream of other Japanese software development support) I expect the PS3 to surpass the sales of the 360 with ease.

    I just don't think the 360, as it stands now, has the range and breadth of software support necessary to compete with Sony's offering.

    That's just how I see it.

    PS: this is not taking into account the "Wii effect" on the Japanese market - which could have a considerable impact if it takes off.

  • Les #69 6 years ago

    "One thing it will probably do though is put a lot more 360s under TVs which in the long term would not be good news for Sony."

    I agree, but that has nothing to do with a November 17th launch date for GoW, this assures GoW gets less press than it probably should.

    The current lauch line-up of PS3 is not that impressive. I'll wait for the reviews (MotorStorm and Resistance: FoM look very impressive, WarHawk doesn't) and if those are good and I can still find a PS3 in the stores, I'll definetely buy it. Otherwise I'll wait till the release of Heavenly Sword.

    €600 is a lot of money but I think it's good value. I need WiFi, the harddisk is reasonably sized and Blu-Ray integrated in the system is really a plus. A 360 with wifi adapter, HD-DVD player (which is inferior to Blu-Ray which doesn't mean it can't become the leading format) and a bigger drive (don't know if that's available right now) would cost roughly the same or maybe even more. And PS3 accepts standard laptop HDs which makes expanding relatively cheap. But the most important aspect of a console are its games and FF, Devil May Cry and Gran Turismo are for the time being exclusive to PS3. For me there's currently no must-have titles on 360 and I don't want to spend money on a third console if 2 suffice for 95% of my gaming needs.

  • Penguinzoot #70 6 years ago

    @MrT

    Its like this:

    Johnny wants a PS3 for Xmas so bad he wants to cry;
    Johnnys mummy and daddy want to buy him a PS3 fo xmas;
    Johnnys mummy and daddy don't understand that to get a PS3 for xmas, they need to pre-order months in advance;
    Johnnys mummy and daddy are unable to get Johnny a PS3 for Xmas because the initial allocation have all gone to preorders by hardcore gamers (mostly anyway);
    Johnnys mummy and daddy do not want a disappointed Johnny on Xmas morning bawling his eyes out;
    Johnnys mummy and daddy see the 360 on the shelf. See 360 demos in pods. Sees the price. "Its a lot cheaper anyway"
    Johnnys mummy and daddy buy 360 instead

    On Xmas morning, johnny opens his present to find a 360. Bawls his eyes out because he wanted a PS3.

    For many kids, it will be a case of:
    Have NO present to open on Xmas day and wait till new shipments come in after Xmas (a hard thing to message to kids)
    -OR-
    Having an alternative, like the 360 or Wii.

    From a parents perspective the choice is easy. You buy what is available even if your little brat won't like it.

    Edited by Penguinzoot at 04/08/06 @ 10:44

  • hjarg666 #71 6 years ago

    Mr. T- you got that right!
    We're talking about couple of possible scenarios here:

    Johnny's mum goes to shop. Looks at a price tags. And since Johhy's mom is probably not fan who has flamed hunderes of forums with arguments about blu-ray and superior hardware of PS3, she'll just get the boy an XB360 with "Gears of War". And has enough money left to buy lucky Johnny new swater and socks. Perhaps even Wii.

    Johnny's mum goes to shop. PS3 is sold out. XB360 is available. She grabs that instead. For Johnny needs a new console for Christmas.

    Johnny himself goes to shop. His loving mum has given him enough money to buy PS3. Now, he knows more about games then his mum, but he is also a casual gamer that cares more about games then hardware and ranting in the forum. He looks at "Gears of War" posters and trailers. Makes a small calculation: with the money i have, i can either buy PS3 and 1 game or XB360 and several gamers. And howdy, that "Gears of Wars" looks cool!
    Plus, the lad ahead of him in the line just got the last PS3 on sale and Johnny has the money... what do you think he'll do?

    You just have to remember Microsoft doesn't do that to win over Sony fanboys. It's the casual customer.

  • Kafeen #72 6 years ago

    I don't really see how its competition. Surely if you're planning on buying a game, you buy a game. If you're planning on buying a console, you buy a console.

    Microsoft could just be launching a game with alot of potential right when noone has any money to buy it. Although saying that since the PS3 will undoubtedly be near impossible to get hold of it probably won't make much difference anyway.
    Edited by Kafeen at 04/08/06 @ 10:57

  • foamy #73 6 years ago

    If Gears of War turns out to be crap, i'll be lmfao for days.

  • Les #74 6 years ago

    @Kafeen

    Totally agree!

  • bauhaus #75 6 years ago

    I`ll get both

  • projectmayhem #76 6 years ago

    people wont NOT buy a ps3 because of 1 game... what is more likely is that gow ends up being swamped by the ps3 stuff and has a bad start in sales

  • effinwooly #77 6 years ago

    nice post foamy .........ur typical sony fanboy